Former Resident Sends His Thanks

Here's a Hushpuppies Hug for all those in metro Orlando who responded to the request to write a letter of encouragement to a former Orlando resident serving time in an Arkansas prison.

Inmate Gary Riley, who promised to answer all the letters, has sent a thank-you poem to Hushpuppies. It's too long to reprint in this space, but here's the gist:

''Let us pray for mercy and grace, for ourselves, and for those nearest and dearest to us. And for all who turn in faith to God, in all ages and countries, and amongst all people. Thanks, Orlando!''

Jock O'Mahoney, who has acted in 200 television shows and 65 feature films, was in Orlando for the Deborah Heart and Lung Center celebrity dinner Sunday at Flakey Jake's restaurant.

O'Mahoney has come in from his home in Los Angeles on a few other occasions to make appearances for his friend, Bob Snow, owner of Church Street Station. Orlando, he said, is fortunate to have a visionary man like Snow spearheading downtown development. ''He belongs in another era, not in this plastic era.''

He also credits actor Burt Reynolds for helping Field come across better on television interview shows. ''Until Burt took her under his wing, she had a habit of putting her foot in her mouth.''

Three-dot data: Keswick Court in the Orlando subdivision of Chatsworth -- off Conway Road just south of Curry Ford Road -- is scheduled to be closed today, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reason: Candy Cooper, an insurance executive, has lined up about 200 neighbors to stage a garage sale to benefit the Orlando/ Metro unit of the American Cancer Society. . . .

Belated happy birthday wishes to native Floridian Mrs. Annie H. Schneider of Winter Park Towers, who turned 107 years of age on Thursday! She and her late husband, Albert, had no children, but she has a multitude of relatives in the area. Her great grandfather, James E. Broome, was Florida's third governor. . . .

Ladies Auxiliary of Bishop Council 2112, Knights of Columbus has scheduled its annual Christmas bazaar 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the Knights' building on Cornelia Drive off State Road 436, about two miles north of Orlando's Colonial Drive. . . .

Orlando-born Gary Pitts, 39, Southeastern regional manager for Ticor Title Insurance, has been promoted to the presidency of the Pacific division of Ticor in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Karen, have four children. . . .

November 1975 graduates of the J.C. Stone Police Academy, Orlando Police Department's first training academy, have scheduled their 10th reunion for Nov. 24. For details, call Bob Hamilton, city attorney, (305) 849-2295. . . . Former pro-footballer Deacon Jones is chairman of Sweetwater Episcopal Academy's second annual roast to salute an outstanding Seminole County citizen, Tuesday at the Hilton at Walt Disney World Village in Lake Buena Vista. Honoree: Dr. Michael B. Butler. For reservations, call (305) 869-1293 or 862-8457.

Sour root stock: ''Wouldn't you like to do it all over again?'' a female fan asked a player at the recent Old Timers Baseball Game at Tinker Field. Said the player, ''No, ma'am. Not at my salary.''